Commencement 2014

Photo: Mike Peters

James B. Patterson

Montclair State University held its 2014 Commencement exercises on Friday,
May 23, at the Izod Center at New Jersey’s Meadowlands Sports Complex,
conferring 4,382 degrees in science and mathematics, humanities and the social
sciences, business, the arts and education. The Class of 2014, which is the
largest in University history, includes 3,210 undergraduates and 1,172 graduate
students.

Montclair State University President Susan A. Cole presided over the
exercises and the Commencement address was delivered by award-winning author,
James B. Patterson, best known for his suspense and thriller novels including the
Alex Cross, Michael Bennett and Women’s Murder Club series.

A perennially best-selling author, Patterson has achieved book sales
totaling more than 270 million copies, and he holds the Guinness world record
for the most No. 1 best sellers on TheNew York Times list – making the top
spot in both the adult and children’s categories simultaneously. He has received
numerous awards including the Edgar Award, the BCA Mystery Guild’s Thriller of
the Year Award, the International Thriller of the Year Award, the Reader’s
Digest Reader’s Choice Award and the Children’s Choice Book Award for Author of
the Year.

An
active supporter of reading and education, Patterson has funded scholarships at
a number of colleges and universities – including Montclair State – for future
teachers who are committed to providing students with the foundation for a
lifetime enjoyment of reading. The James Patterson Teacher Education
Scholarships at Montclair State provide support to 16 students each year and 12
scholarship recipients had their degrees conferred at the ceremony.

After receiving an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University, Patterson
addressed the Class of 2014 and spoke of the lasting impact of stories on people's lives.
"I'm talking about the power of real stories to change real lives,"
he said. "The power of stories that help us understand the world better
than we knew."

"I love writing stories; I'm incredibly passionate about it," said
Patterson in offering some advice: "Passion is the reason for choosing a
career – not money, not fame – passion."

Greetings from the senior class were offered by Michael Christopher Rosin,
who received a bachelor’s degree in Music, with a concentration in Music Theory
and Composition. Rosin will attend the San Francisco Conservatory of Music next
year as a student in the Master of Arts program.

Mark Francis Russo was the graduate student speaker. Russo, who received a doctorate
in Mathematics Education, will be starting a new job next year as the district
supervisor for mathematics and art for the Pascack Valley Regional High School
District.